The forest had come alive in the blink of an eye, everything- even the air- seemed to shimmer with light and movement.

wow

"Should we find a place to sit?" I glanced over at Levi, who was completely still- enthralled by the scene playing out in front of us.

cute

BANISH THE THOUGHT

OKOK

"Yeah-" he tore his gaze away from a large glowing beetle clinging to a tree next to us. "Let's move."

are you sure we're going to be able to?

"You seem distracted," I hummed, "let me lead the way- you can keep daydreaming about magic beetles."

"I don't-"

"You're not my dad- stop nagging," I flicked him on the forehead. "Trust me- continue looking around- I'll drag you behind."

"That sounds awful."

"I don't know about that," I shrugged, "you get to be a nerd- I get to bully you- it's a win-win."

"Thank you."

"You've been waiting your whole life to do something like this- just make sure you don't trip and I'll do the rest of the work."

besides-

he's been looking out for me since we stepped into the forest

he should relax a bit

"Everything would change if we had even a fraction of what was here," Levi murmured, lost in thought once again.

i won't get into a fight

just this once

i'll let levi ackerman win

well- i wouldn't call it winning

you're right- i'm abstaining- NOT giving up

"You're right," I nodded, glancing around to get my bearings again before continuing onward.

i do agree that everything would change-

i'm just not sure if it would be for the better

what would the world do with the secrets this forest holds?

"I'll speak with your father again when this is all over."

oh?

"You won't be able to convince him," I muttered, rolling my eyes, "if you think I'm stubborn you're going to struggle with him."

i learn from the best <333

"I got through to you eventually."

you're right

"Still- I don't think you'll get anywhere with it," I paused, thinking, "although he did seem to like you."

he asked about levi- briefly

and that look he gave me when the door shut

it was oddly fond

"He did?"

"He asked about you- he wanted to meet you-" I glanced over at Levi, "I can't fathom why- you're a real piece of work."

i say with all the love in my heart <3

"He did?"

"Yeah- maybe he wants to chew you out for all the annoying letters you've been sending-"

"I thought you shredded all of them, idiot."

"I did," I nodded, "anyway that wouldn't make sense- he looked way too nice when he saw me in your body."

it was so soft-

oh god

i should stop thinking about this it's going to lead me to a dark place

"What the fuck."

"I just had a horrifying thought."

"Please don't share it."

"You don't think that my dad is-" I gagged on the words, "you don't think that he thinks we're a thing right?"

BUT THERE'S NO OTHER EXPLANATION

"Holy shit."

"The minute we get out of here I'm correcting him-"

"Naturally, or I'll do it for you."

"I mean where did he even get that- I've never spoken highly about you-"

in fact i'm certain that i've only shittalked levi in front of him-

excusing the brief and humiliating period where i had a crush on him

but there's no way my father knew anything about that

i only ever told historia

and she would never (i hope)

"I hope he isn't under the impression that I'm courting you-" Levi choked out the words, "that is our cover story but wouldn't your father be smart enough to see through that."

I MEAN I THOUGHT SO TOO

"I hope so-" I shook my head, trying to clear it of any more of these thoughts, "he wouldn't- there's no way."

we'll have to clear things up as soon as we get back

"We should stop soon, it's getting darker," Levi changed the subject abruptly.

you're right

"Here is as good as anywhere," I nodded, glancing around for a place where we could lay out the bedrolls Eren had packed for us.

my back is going to hurt tomorrow morning

"You rest, I'll set up," Levi offered, tossing his bag down.

"Let's just do it together," I shook my head, helping him unpack.

"That's a first."

"What?"

"You offering to help."

"You're lying and you know it."

I JUST OFFERED TO HELP EARLIER

i'm helpful <3

you just won't admit it because we're awful at being nice to each other

"That beetle from earlier," Levi changed the subject abruptly, getting comfortable.

yeah?

"What about it?" I joined him, wincing slightly at the feeling of hard the ground under my back.

"I saw another one similar to it at the beginning of the day, it looked completely normal."

hmm

"You saw it didn't you? The entire forest changed the minute the sun went down- they could've been the same thing."

i was beginning to think that there wasn't anything magical about this place before that

"Why isn't that written anywhere?"

"I'm sure it is," I shrugged, "but if you were trying to get people to stay away from this forest- wouldn't you make it difficult for them to find what they were looking for even if they managed to get in?"

it makes sense

there's only one person who has a full understanding of this place

and she lives somewhere in this mess

"You're right," Levi seemed discouraged.

"I won't tell if you steal something," I whispered, glancing over at him. "Just make it small- if you get caught I'm leaving you to suffer the consequences."

"We don't even know what half of this shit does," Levi shook his head.

"Isn't that half the fun?"

"Not if it could kill me."

"Oh come on," I sighed, "you're supposed to be the fun one in this situation."

this is literally the ONLY thing i care about following the rules for

why are you making me tell you to break them

BORING

"I'll think about it."

"Think faster- I want to know what you steal."

"It isn't stealing."

"It is."

"Fuck off."

"Goodnight Levi."

"Goodnight Y/N."

"I hate you."

"Hate you too."

______________________

levi ackerman is just a dude i love him

- ami